92203 Black Prince
92203 ‘Black Prince’ - British Railways 9F class, built at Swindon in 1959. No 92203 is owned by the artist and wildlife conservationist David Shepherd. After completing a two-year major overhaul in 2004 at the Flour Mill workshops in the Forest of Dean the locomotive returned to the GWR and will remain based at Toddington for the foreseeable future, although it occasionally visits other railways.
- 2-10-0
- The final British Railways steam locomotive class, designed by R A Riddles. 251 were built, production being shared between Crewe and Swindon. Sister locomotive 92220 ‘Evening Star’ (now at STEAM in Swindon) was the last steam locomotive built by British Railways at Swindon in 1960 and uniquely for the class, is finished in British Railways express passenger green livery.
- 1954
- 142 tons
- 5,000 gallons
- Heavy freight. The 9Fs were the most powerful freight locomotives to run in the UK and could be found throughout the UK. 92203 was latterly allocated to Birkenhead shed and was used to haul heavy iron ore trains from Bidston docks to Shotton steelworks. However, when pressed into passenger work they were found to be capable of speeds exceeding 80mph, despite their small (5ft diameter) driving wheels. All members of the class had been withdrawn by 1968, no. 92203 being purchased by David shepherd straight out of British Railways service. The locomotive was named 'Black Prince' that year. Read more in this article about the Riddles 9Fs and Black Prince by clicking the link below.